THE DECADE OF THE WOMAN

The millennial women are being appreciated in such an unprecedented way than in the past. We have come a mighty long way, and the journey is just now beginning. Sunday, September 20th, Viola Davis accepted an Emmy for being best actress in a drama. The media applauded her on her speech. The speech. It was what you would expect from an Emmy Award recipient to do. I think Viola schooled her audience or myself rather in so many ways, but I’ll just speak on just a few….

1) She was surprised, yet confident. Honored, yet humbled.
2) She was prepared. This resonated with me the most. When you are given a platform, it is an assignment, a duty an obligation to align yourself with the possibilities of getting recognized, what do you say? There are no opportunities to re-do, you have one chance and only once chance to make the most of it, and that she did extremely well.
3) She was selfless. In an era of ‘selfies’, popping up everywhere, this graceful icon stepped out of time by celebrating those who paved the way before her; the elders, the pioneers, whose silent voices were only heard when she recognized that her assignment and purpose were wrapped in persons who preceded her, or persons who will follow her. Be not mistaken, each of us has a platform. Do you recognize who paved the way for you to be where you are today? Can you acknowledge your peers and their efforts, their trials and triumphs? Or are we, tearing each other down in an effort to get to the top?
4) Her bold gracefulness was an alarm. There is a minority out here. Are African-Americans the only minority? Absolutely, not. But we do exist, and the ability to express the current climate through a voice that is not typically referred to in the media ….was hopeful.

The take-away is to be ready, selfless and truthful….because one day your platform awaits you.

Tricia Simone

Born in East Coast Brooklyn, New York of Jamaican parentage and raised in the deep south of Houston, Texas. Tricia Simone views various complex life issues through a unique and diverse lens. She is well known for her very unorthodox but practical and effective method to finding solutions and empowering people at life’s crossroad.